dual-clutch gearbox

Invented by a Frenchman just before WW2 and introduced to road cars in 2003 in the Golf R32, this type of transmission is a semi-automatic gearbox - two clutches take care of two sets of gears. One clutch takes care of odd gears (1, 3, 5, 7) and the other clutch deals with the even gears (R, 2, 4, 6).

How it works:
One clutch has 1st gear engaged, with the car moving forwards. Meanwhile, the other clutch has 2nd gear ready to be engaged. Come change-up time, clutch no.1 disengages 1st and clutch no.2 engages 2nd gear and the car keeps going, whilst clutch no.1 prepares 3rd gear for engagement. All of this happens within milliseconds, so power delivery to the road is uninterrupted.

Usually - though not always - dual-clutch gearboxes are more fuel-efficient than an equivalent manual gearbox.

For more info, see Wikipedia.

"What gearbox have you got in your Audi TT?"
"Oh, I've got Audi's (VW's) dual-clutch gearbox. It's fantastic!"

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Bentley Continental GT

Based on the Audi A8, the Continental GT is a 2-door coupé made by British car manufacturer Bentley.
The GT is available with a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder or a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged twelve-cylinder petrol engine mated to an automatic gearbox and an AWD system and can go on to a top speed of 195 mph.

"What's that coupé over there?"
"It's a Bentley Continental GT 4.0."

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M5

The Ultimate BMW 5-Series. Supersaloon (sedan) now with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. Better than all uber-saloons. Apart from the Jaaag XFR-S.

"Matt's M5 just owned Dave's E63 AMG"

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7-Series

BMW's flagship saloon car. It is a rival for Audi's A8, Jaguar's XJ, Lexus' LS, Mercedes-Benz's S-Class, Volvo's S80 and Volkswagen's Phaeton.

The F01 generation is available with 3.0-litre turbocharged six cylinder (740i), 4.4-litre turbocharged eight cylinder (750i) and 6.0-litre turbocharged twelve cylinder (760Li) petrol engines and a 3.0-litre six cylinder (730d and 740d) diesel engine.

James May on the V12 7-Series:
"This is the 760Li. Or to give it it's other name, the BMW "Move Over Poor Person"".

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Lackadaisical

A bicycle made for one.

A: I heard your mate broke up with his girlfriend. They were a great cycling team.
B: Yeah, he's heartbroken. He's bought himself a new bike though.
A: What is it?
B: A lackadaisical.

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Wheels

A song by the Foo Fighters. Released on their Greatest Hits album.

A: "What's next on the album?"
B: "Wheels"

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S80

Volvo's rival to the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series (including the 550i), Jaaag XF, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS and the Subaru Legacy.

The second generation (2006) - related to the Ford S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs and Mondeo family hatch, Land Rover Freelander, Jaguar X-Type and Volvo's own XC60 crossover and V70 estate - when launched was available with 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder, 3.2-litre six-cylinder and 4.4-litre eight-cylinder petrol engines and 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 2.4-litre five-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines.

After revisions in 2009, the S80's engine range comprises of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged (Ford EcoBoost) four-cylinder and 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol and 1.6-litre four-cylinder and 2.0-litre five-cylinder turbocharged and 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engines.

The 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol and 2.0-litre turbocharged and 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged five-cylinder diesel engines are available with Volvo's Geartronic automatic transmission, with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is available with a Ford/Getrag dual-clutch gearbox. All engines bar the 3.0-litre petrol come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard.

The 3.0-litre petrol and 2.4-litre diesel are available with AWD.

"What's that car over there?"
"It's a Volvo S80 4.4."

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